Bearbrick Collecting: valubl info
Bearbricks are among the world’s most collectible objects yet there are still a lot of collectors that do not know much about them. Let’s explore what the Bearbrick fenom is all about.
Bearbrick is a collectible toy designed and produced by the Japanese company MediCom Toy. The first figure was released on May 27, 2001, as a free gift to visitors of the World Character Convention 12 in Tokyo. The idea of the first release was twofold. To expand on Medicom’s popularity of their Kubrick toy brand and also celebrate the anniversary of the teddy bear which is why the bear has become so iconic.
Bearbrick Sizes
When I was researching for this post I was amazed at the various sizes and designs there were for Bearbricks. Bearbricks have been released in several different sizes using a variety of materials, including wood, felt, and glow-in-the-dark plastic. Most collectors know the bear as a plastic figurine. Medicom says the bear at 100% is 2.75 inches tall but can go as low as 2 inches or as high as 27 inches (the 1000% figures).
Medicom was also one of the first manufacturers to use the “blind box” and they continue the use the concept today as they are in their 40th series release.
Since their release, Bearbrick has grown and developed into a formidable collectible across all market segments. Some are even museum pieces and one recently sold at auction for $157K. Now that is what I call a valuable collectible.
Designer Toys with Style
The appeal is that the designers have a knack for being able to cross the bear with a variety of pop and cultural icons that drive the interest. The collaborations are too many to count but you can check out the 10 most expensive Bearbicks here.
Typically these collaborations are limited releases and that just adds to the mystic. Significant price jumps for these limited releases are normal so collectors need to be careful and really understand the current market.
Bearbrick Fun Fact
The largest collection of Bearbrick bears consists of 1,008 bears was achieved by Gao Ke (China) in Beijing, China, as of December 20, 2020.
Here are some great additional resources for those new to collecting Bearbicks
Guide to Bearbricks (Blog from Japan)
Add Your Bearbick Collection to the valubl Inventory System Today!
